Commutation of sentence of death on pregnant woman.
What this section does
If a woman sentenced to death is found to be pregnant, the High Court is mandated to commute her death sentence to imprisonment for life. This is a mandatory commutation with no discretion left to the court.
AI-generated plain-language summary. For the binding statutory text, see India Code (official).
Procedure at a glance
- Key actors
- High Court · Pregnant woman sentenced to death
- Time limit
- None specified
Derived from CrPC s.416.
Read the official text
For the binding statutory text of BNSS Section 456, refer to the Gazette of India or the India Code official website.
Why this matters
BNSS Section 456 forms part of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita which replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 on 1 July 2024. Any new filing, FIR, charge sheet, or bail application made on or after that date should cite the new section number. References to the old act in legacy documents remain valid for matters that arose before the changeover.